This year, for the third season, a group of former CFDA/Vogue Fashion Funders will travel to the City of Light during fashion week to participate in “Americans in Paris,” a showcase for emerging American designers. The goal of the program, which is made possible thanks to support by Tommy Hilfiger, is to bring the up-and-coming designers’ talents—and, subsequently, their clothes and accessories—to a wider, international retail audience.

And last night, in honor of the program, Hilfiger and his wife, Dee, gave the funders a fitting farewell before their big trip by hosting an intimate cocktail party at their home in the Plaza hotel. Halfway through the evening—which had perked up the exhausted-from-fashion-week group considerably—the merry bunch gathered on the carpeted stairs of the two-story apartment for a portrait when Hilfiger offered up some fatherly words of encouragement.

“I think that if you really have that passion and drive, you’ll make it work,” he said. “Just never give up. And don’t take no for an answer! And if you hit those obstacles in the road, find a way to get to the other side. Never give up. So bon voyage!”

This season’s Americans in Paris are:

A.A. / Antonio AzzuoloAlbertus Swanepoel / Albertus SwanepoelCreatures of the Wind / Shane Gabier and Chris PetersCushnie et Ochs / Michelle Ochs and Carly CushnieFenton Fallon / Dana LorenzIrene Neuwirth / Irene NeuwirthLibertine / Johnson HartigOrganic by John Patrick / John PatrickSuno / Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty
The showroom will be located at Le Salon Marbeufand and will be open from September 29 to October 1.